a couple of my contacts have been telling me some stuff lately about things they have recieved in care packages.  I don't recall seeing these comments addressed in a single place so for the benefit of newbies and as a reminder to seasoned junkies here goes...

• Do send supporting, caring letters and cards.  A message from the heart, no matter how brief, is treasured by all servicemen and women and can turn a bad day into a great one.
• Do send kids' letters and drawings.  I don't have kids but my sister-in-law works at an elementary school.  Last year we got the kids to do Christmas cards or drawings and they were hilarious!  The honesty of a child is treasured by all the servicemen and women and many a tent, hooch, and office in Iraq and Afghanistan is wall-papered with kids' drawings.
• Send photos of yourself and your family.  They love being able to put a face to the name of the person writing and/or sending care packages.
• Keep things upbeat in your letters.  Many of these guys and gals just want to hear about normal American stuff.  I have a contact I get to IM with frequently.  He always starts out asking 'What did you do today?' and follows it with 'What did you eat today?'  No philosophic discussions, just simple every day life.  He also likes hearing about my 7 year old nephew's adventures.  If he wants to talk about the war, I let him.  Mostly he doesn't.  Not that all soldiers are the same but they DO miss life in the U.S.!

• Don't send any expired food items.  Even if you call the company and they say that it's still okay to eat, the Army and other services do not allow the servicemen to eat expired food items.  They throw them out.  So don't waste your postage sending expired food.  CHECK THE DATES before you pack any food items.
• Don't send used underwear.  No matter how badly someone needs underwear, no one wants to wear used undies, even if they have been washed and bleached.
• Don't send coupons.  There is nowhere for the servicemen and women to use coupons in Iraq and Afghanistan, at least not where my contacts are!

That's all I can think of at the moment.  Please feel free to add any feedback you have gotten from your contacts.  Carry on, support junkies!

• Do keep supporting even if you don't get an email or letter back. Our men and women are just a little bit busy.
• Do let your contact 'set the pace' in correspondence. If he/she is formal, address them by rank; if they're familiar, ask permission to call them by first name.
  
• Do send chocolate during "chocolate season." (ie cool weather!) M&Ms travel fine year round.
• Do bag things in ziplocs. It keeps items safe, keeps spills contained if they do happen—plus they're very use-able afterward.
  

• Don't mix food with hygiene items. Not only for spillage, but who wants gum that smells/tastes like soap?
• Don't ever think "just" a letter is not enough! Letters are often the MOST important thing to receive.
  

Don't use loose "twist-wrap" candies as fillers for boxes as they can soften / run and make a big mess of the box and contents.  Candy-covered paperback books are ruined by such practices.

Gran

If there are females in the unit you support, and you send a box of "female" things...please label it accordingly!

 Great idea Lilly! I never thought of a post like this so thanks!

Do insure high priced or big ticket items - Sadly, some items/boxes don't always quite make it to there destination either due to nosy people or due to mail getting lost. 

  Do send as much support as you can - It is the highlight of many of their days when they get a package or a letter of support from a complete and caring "stranger". Letters have just as much impact as packages so don't think you aren't helping.

  Don't send homemade goods - Those will be thrown away immediately for their safety. I am sure most of us know this.

I'll update if I remember anymore things. 

  Don't send pork or any products containing it - This may not necessarily apply to everyone so check but I know it is not allowed in Iraq.

I thought of another 'Don't' -

Please DON'T send opened food items OR used toiletries.  Believe it or not, contacts have received open boxes of cookies and other food.  And at a collection I held at work, even though I requested  new items, I got bottles of shampoos  that were down anywhere from an inch to half the bottle; lotions that were so old they had separated, and stuff that was so old you couldn't read the labels anymore.  It all went straight into the trash at my office.  It's like people cleaned out their bathroom cabinets and donated all the old stuff they didn't use.  On the other hand, that was only about 10% of all the stuff collected, and the rest was GOOD stuff!!!

 Quick question (since this is my first time sending a care package).

I am a resident assistant at Kent State University. My hall is fundraising money and items to send to our soldier. Our soldier asked for entertainment items (ie dvds, video games, games, etc). Is it ok if somebody wanted to donate one of their own DVD (obviously if it is in good condition) to send over? I didn't know if that woudl be rude. We are poor college kids and so we are trying to do anything we can to help... we REALLY want to support them in everyway we can without making ourselves go bankrupt and need more college loans. 

I am so excited to get started. This is one of the best things I've done in my life  

Thanks!

 Used cd's and dvd's are great and I am sure they will love them ... just beware of the content of the DVD's ... I don't think there is anything allowed with sexual content

 other than that keep up the good work ....

Another suggestion (that was posted somewhere else) is that you put ANYSOLDIER.COM  on the dvd/cd.   The reasaon for that is that sometimes things get taken by the locals and then resold to our soldiers.   If the ANYSOLDIER.COM  is on it, they'll not really be able to "take" things.    I hope I didn't confuse you by this.     Just try to protect your things by putting that on.   There is a lot of info on this forum.........and lots of good reading and info...........We'll be here to help you out......

Happy packing 

Love peace and blessings.......Anne Marie

Donated used DVDs are fine!  I am sure college kids like you are more in touch with what would appeal to Soldiers since and awfully lot of them are your age!  I am 'up there' agewise and sometimes I send older movies that I found hilariously and they are probably thinking, 'What the heck IS this, and what was she thinking??'  So I say GO FOR IT!!!

You don't have to go broke buying stuff for care packages.  Write letters.  Yeah, I guess that is a foreign concept in the IM and text message age we live in.  BUT...make the initial contact by snail mail, include your e-mail address and if they have internet access, I bet you will hear from them.  If not, just remember they are a LITTLE busy with war stuff

Best of luck to you and your fellow students and thanks for helping out Soldiers!